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Ronnie Lott, an All-America from Southern California, was the San Francisco 49ers’ first round draft pick and the eighth player chosen overall in the 1981 National Football League Draft. The 6-0, 203-pound defensive back made an immediate impression and was named the starting left cornerback from his first day in training camp.

In his first NFL season, Lott led a young secondary that helped the 49ers to win Super Bowl XVI. He became the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns. His outstanding play resulted in his finishing second to another defensive standout, Lawrence Taylor, for Rookie of the Year honors.

Known for his hard-hitting style, Lott was used at both left and right cornerback positions and as a free and strong safety during his 14-year career. The versatile defensive back earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations at three different positions – cornerback, free safety, and strong safety. It was, however, at free safety, where he had the freedom to cover the whole field, that he may have been most effective.

In 1986, he played 14 games at the free safety position before an injury sidelined him for the final two games of the season. Still, he led the league with a career-most 10 interceptions, recorded 77 tackles, three forced fumbles and two quarterback sacks. It was perhaps his finest season. During his career with the 49ers (1981-1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-1992), and the New York Jets (1993-1994) Lott recorded 63 career interceptions and twice led the league.

A complete player, he surpassed the 1,000-career tackle mark in 1993, and had five seasons of at least 100 tackles. In his ten seasons with the 49ers, San Francisco won eight NFC Western Division titles and four Super Bowls. In 20 playoff contests (all starts), he recorded nine interceptions, 89 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two touchdowns.

It has been said that Lott had the uncanny ability of being able to sense the direction a play was about to take and then somehow disrupt it. “He’s like a middle linebacker playing safety,” Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry once remarked. “He’s devastating. He may dominate the secondary better than anyone I’ve seen.” Named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once, Lott was also named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team.

Defensive

Year

Team

G

Int

Yds.

Avg.

TD

FumRec.

Yds.

1981

San Francisco

16

7

117

16.7

3

2

0

1982

San Francisco

9

2

95

47.5

1

0

0

1983

San Francisco

15

4

22

5.5

0

1

0

1984

San Francisco

12

4

26

6.5

0

0

0

1985

San Francisco

16

6

68

11.3

0

2

0

1986

San Francisco

14

10

134

13.4

1

0

0

1987

San Francisco

12

5

62

12.4

0

2

33

1988

San Francisco

13

5

59

11.8

0

4

3

1989

San Francisco

11

5

34

6.8

0

0

0

1990

San Francisco

11

3

26

8.7

0

1

3

1991

L.A. Raiders

16

8

52

6.5

0

1

4

1992

L.A. Raiders

16

1

0

0.0

0

1

0

1993

New York Jets

16

3

35

11.7

0

2

0

1994

New York Jets

15

0

0

0.0

0

1

0

Career Total

192

63

730

11.6

5

17

43

Additional Career Statistics: Kickoff Returns: 8-113; Sacks: 8.5

Championship Games

1981 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 28, Dallas Cowboys 27
Lott started at left cornerback. He recorded four tackles and two assists.

1983 NFC – Washington Redskins 24, San Francisco 49ers 21
Lott started at left cornerback. He recorded three tackles, one assist, and two passes defensed.

1984 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 23, Chicago Bears 0
Lott started at left cornerback. He recorded one tackle and three assists.

1988 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 28, Chicago Bears 3
Lott started at free safety. He recorded six tackles and one pass defensed.

1989 NFC – San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 3
Lott started at free safety. He recorded three tackles, one assist, one interception for 14 yards, and 2 passes defensed.

1990 NFC – New York Giants 15, San Francisco 49ers 13
Lott started at free safety. He recorded three tackles and two assists.

Super Bowls

Super Bowl XVI – San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21
Lott started at left cornerback. He recorded four tackles and one assist.

Super Bowl XIX – San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16
Lott started at left cornerback. He recorded one tackle and one pass defensed.

Super Bowl XXIII – San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16
Lott started at free safety. He recorded five tackles and one pass defensed.

Super Bowl XXIV – San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10
Lott started at free safety. He recorded one tackle and one pass defensed.

• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns, Rookie Season – 3 (1981)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Season Leading League, Interceptions – 2 (1986, 1991)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns, Season – 3 (1981)

Super Bowl Records

• [1st] Most Games, Winning Team – 4 (XVI, XIX, XXIII, XXIV)

Post-Season Records

• [Tied for 1st] Most Interceptions, Career – 9
• [2nd] Most Yards Gained, Interceptions, Career – 187
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns, Career – 2

Team Records

49ers' records held by Lott(Records through the 1990 season, Lott's final season with San Francisco)